Acupuncture is a healing therapy that originated in China. It has been used for thousands of years to diagnose, treat and prevent illness, and improve general wellbeing. Acupuncturists insert tiny, disposable, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points to stimulate and unblock the body's energy flow.

The goal of acupuncture – and all of traditional Oriental medicine -- is to unblock your energy flow and restore and maintain your body's natural balance and harmony.

Acupuncture is not a miracle cure, nor a "quick fix." Some patients may experience immediate results, while other may not notice any progress until later in the course of treatment. It is important to remember that acupuncture addresses the underlying cause of a problem rather than fixing a symptom. It often takes time to have an effect and, therefore, requires trust and acceptance of as well as commitment to the process of healing.

Yes.

Traditional Oriental medicine views the body as a dynamic energy system in which qi (pronounced "chee") flows throughout the body along pathways called meridians -- also called channels. If the energy flow gets blocked for some reason, we experience illness and pain.

There are a number of reasons. Poor nutrition, trauma, medications, emotional distress and high levels of stress can cause imbalances.

Our trained and licensed practitioners incorporate acutherapy, Oriental medicine, Eastern nutrition and education to unblock your energy flow and restore your body's balance and harmony.

According to traditional Oriental medicine, obstructions in the body's pathways -- which are also called channels or meridians -- create imbalances that can lead to discomfort and disease. Acupuncturists insert needles at specific acupuncture points along the meridians. The purpose is to unblock the obstruction and re-establish the free flow of qi, or energy. Acupuncture relieves symptoms because it treats the root cause of disharmony – the blockage of energy.

Yes. Acupuncture is safe when performed by a trained and licensed professional. Each needle used by Healing Foundations acupuncturists is sterile, made of high-quality stainless steel and used only one time. The needles are tiny, smooth and immediately discarded in a professionally sealed container for disposal after a single use. According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference on Acupuncture, "one of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other accepted medical procedures used for the same conditions."

We only use sterile, single use surgical stainless steel needles. The skin is cleaned with alcohol prior to needling. Some people have allergies to metals. Some needles are covered in silicone. If you have these or any other sensitivities, please let your acupuncturist know prior to treatment.

If you have redness after a treatment it may be a histamine reaction. Histamine is the main chemical that is associated with many allergic reactions. One can expect symptoms like skin rash, hives, swelling and itching.

Also, if you are aware of a latex allergy please let your acupuncturist know as some gloves contain latex. We generally purchase latex-free gloves at Healing Foundations but to be safe please state this allergy before treatment.

Clients often remark that acupuncture is unlike anything they had ever experienced before. Some people feel nothing at all. Others have described the needle insertion as being similar to feeling static electricity. Most people find acupuncture relaxing and many fall asleep during the treatment.

Traditional Oriental medicine offers needle-free therapies for adults and children. These include acupressure – which is an older modality than acupuncture – ear seeds, tui na and teishin. Diet and herbs can also relieve many symptoms.

Research indicates that acupuncture and acutherapies are beneficial in treating many health conditions, relieving pain and calming the nervous system. They help alleviate the symptoms associated with many conditions, as well as side effects of medications. The National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization recognize acupuncture's effectiveness in treating more than 40 disorders.
Links from the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health about acupuncture's effectiveness:
WHO
NIH

Acutherapy has a calming effect on the nervous system and helps alleviate symptoms associated with these conditions. Auricular (ear) acupuncture and needle-free auricular acupuncture have been particularly helpful as complementary treatments for clients with ADD and ADHD. Because the effects of acutherapy are cumulative, clients benefit from treatments over time.

Each person is different. Some people begin to experience positive change after one treatment. Acute conditions may be alleviated within two or three treatments. Chronic conditions, on the other hand, may require several months of consistent treatment to achieve results.

People respond to acutherapy differently. In general, however, most people experience some change within five treatments. Acutherapy usually provides relief in a short period of time for people who have acute conditions -- conditions that don't last long and have sudden onsets. People with longer lasting, persistent and often recurring chronic conditions usually see results over time with continued treatments.

The average acupuncture program requires three to four years of rigorous study. Typically, a licensed acupuncturist has earned a degree from an accredited college and passed the national certification exams administered by the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCCAOM.  Once licensed, Acupuncturists maintain their licenses by taking authorized continuing education courses. Click here (pdf) to learn more.

Absolutely. Practitioners at Healing Foundations must be national board certified and licensed in the state of Illinois.

Yes, we treat children. For children 10 years old and younger, we use needle-free techniques, such as acupressure, tui na and teishin. Practitioners may also use auricular therapy with older children. Auricular therapy is an acupuncture technique that uses needles on specific points on the outer ear. Practitioners may also make dietary or herbal recommendations appropriate for children.

You don't have to be ill or in pain to benefit from acutherapy and other traditional Oriental medicine treatments. Keeping your body in balance helps to prevent illness and strengthens your overall ability to manage daily stressors and improve productivity.

No. Traditional Chinese medicine is not part of a religious or spiritual practice.

No. As with any form of treatment, there are no guarantees.

A licensed acupuncturist has usually earned a degree from an accredited college and passed the national certification exams administered by the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, NCCAOM. The average acupuncture program requires three to four years of rigorous study. Learn more (pdf).

There are hundreds of herbs in traditional Oriental medicine that are known to have specific healing properties. After careful evaluation, your Healing Foundations practitioner can recommend a combination of herbs especially for you. Herbal formulas may be ingested as teas, pills, capsules, granules or tinctures.

Healing Foundations uses herbs manufactured by companies that practice strict quality control. Chinese herbal formulas have been used for countless generations. Their effects have been documented over hundreds – and often thousands -- of years. To learn more about compliance with quality assurance and regulations, please visit the following manufactures' websites:
Kan Herbs
May Way
Golden Flower
Blue Poppy
Health Concerns
NuHerbs

No. This is not faith-based medicine or healing. You don't even have to believe in the underlying energy flow theory of traditional Oriental medicine to receive the benefits.

Traditional Oriental medicine (also called traditional Chinese medicine, or TCM) is a different way of looking at the body and treating illness. Unlike Western medicine, TCM pays close attention to the many factors that contribute to your health and wellbeing. We take all those factors into consideration to build the "big picture" and create a personal therapeutic regimen that promotes overall health and wellness.

Different styles of acupuncture and acutherapy treat some conditions more effectively than others. For example, some physicians and chiropractors use a style of medical acupuncture that is primarily helpful for treating musculo-skeletal pain. However, a more holistic approach is needed to treat an internal imbalance, such as irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension and other conditions. Licensed acupuncturists are trained to diagnose conditions within the wider framework of traditional Chinese medicine, making it possible to treat a full range of disorders.

Yes, but we are Out-of-Network.  Please check with your insurance carrier to see if acupuncture by a Licensed Acupuncturist is a covered benefit. If acupuncture is covered we will submit a superbill on your behalf for reimbersement directly back to you. Payment in full is expected at time of service.

Treatments take place in a quiet, comfortable private room. You can lie down or sit in a comfortable chair. Music is available and lights can be dimmed. If needles are used, you will probably rest for 30 to 45 minutes before the needles are removed – or less if you've selected group acupuncture. After a treatment, clients generally report feeling relaxed and refreshed. They liken it to waking up from a restorative nap and feel more centered and less scattered.

Meridians -- also known as channels -- are a network of pathways that carry qi (energy), blood and fluids around the body. They are lines of communication that link all parts of the body, creating a unified whole. There are specific acupoints along the meridians. Practitioners stimulate these acupoints to promote health and wellness.

This Oriental medicine technique emphasizes specific movements and breathing exercises to direct and cultivate the flow of qi (energy) to improve health and vitality.

Yin and yang are abstract concepts that describe how pairs of natural opposites are actually interconnected, constantly interacting and dependent on one another. Examples of opposites are sun and moon, day and night, male and female, hot and cold, dry and wet, etc. Traditional Oriental medicine practitioners use these principles to address imbalances in the body and restore health.